Massaging machine



Aug. 27, 1968 M. BURK MASSAGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1965 u 9 m T K m N k Wu A NE .1 m e. M

v Ullll States This invention relates to a machine for massaging or like treatments.

Heretofore, so-called barrel-type massaging machines generally have comprised a rotatable barrel or reel having peripherally spaced, long, thin idler rollers which included undulations or similar devices defining axially spaced, hard knobs. Such prior art devices, however, have not been altogether satisfactory because the massaging actions of the same were in the nature of a monotonous series of thumps, and were generally rather harsh and unsuitable for use on hard parts of the body, such as in the area of the spine. In other words, the known prior art devices are not capable of reproducing careful muscle massaging action of a trained masseur. Moreover, the known prior art devices for reasons stated were recommended only for use on given areas of the body, and in any event for limited periods of time, such as about ten minutes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a power-operated reel-type massaging machine in which massaging elements rotate against the body for simulating the controlled rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints substantially in the manner of massaging action accomplished manually by an experienced masseur.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described capable of safe use for extended periods of time, including the bony areas of the body, such as along the spinal column, without causing damage thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved massaging machine of the character described, in which the degree and form of pressures applied to simulate the rubbing and kneading action of a manually accomplished massaging operation are variable to suit specific conditions and requirements for treatment.

Other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanying drawings.

Of the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a massaging machine embodying the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged end view of the massaging machine, partly broken away and in cross-section, and substantially as viewed along the lines 2, 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged front elevation of the machine, partly broken away and in section;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-section corresponding to an upper portion at the left of FIGURE 3, but illustrating one phase of a massaging action on a human body, and

FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 4, illustrating another phase of a massaging action on the human body, and further illustrating in chain-dotted lines, an adjustment of this action by adjustment of the positions of the smaller rollers.

Referring to the drawings generally, and to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 in particular, there is illustrated a massaging machine embodying the features of the invention, wherein a reel 11 is rotatably mounted between laterally spaced uprights 12 of a framework or housing 13, for rotation in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 3, by means of power means P, including a suitable electric motor 14, provided with speed reduction mechanism 15, as best shown in FIGURE 2. For this purpose,

atent O 3,398,741 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 a V-belt drive 16 from the speed reduction unit 15 drives an auxiliary shaft 18, which in turn drives the reel 11 by means of a pair of V-belts 19, 19 extended from the auxiliary shaft 18 to larger pulleys 20, 20 of a shaft 17, journalled between supports 12, on which the reel 11 is keyed.

Fixedly mounted between end walls 21, 21 of reel 11 may be a first series of peripherally spaced shafts 23, 23 on each of which a plurality of massaging idler wheels 24, 24 are rotatably mounted. Each said wheel 24 may include an annular rim 25 in which is tightly retained an inflated, thin-walled, annular tube or treads 26 of rubber or like elastic material, on the order of known types of innertu'bes, for a small pneumatic tire.

In one embodiment of the present invention, these tubes 26 had an overall diameter of approximately eight inches, and the cross-section of the inflated tube had an outer diameter of approximately three inches. Adjacent sides of the tubes in each series thereof may be relatively close together, but are otherwise disposed so as not to interfere with independent rotation of the individual wheels 24 on the respective shaft 23 (see FIGURES 3, 4 and 5). The adjacent series of wheels 24 also may be closely spaced peripherally of the reel but without necessarily contacting each other for reasons which will be readily apparent later.

A second series of shafts 27, 27 may be similarly aflixed between the end flanges 21 of the reel 11 radially inwardly within the outer bights B between the adjacent series of tubes 26 (see FIGURE 3). The sizes and proportions of the wheels 24 and tubes 26 thereon are such that separate series of relatively small ball-shaped rollers 28, 28, mounted closely adjacent to each other on the respective shafts 27, will be received within the respective bights B to have the outermost portions of the ball-shaped rollers 28 generally close to the circular path of movement of the outer peripheral portions of the annular tubes 26 about the axis of rotation of reel 11. The shafts 23 may be radially adjustably afiixed on the side flanges 21 of the reel, as shown in FIGURE 3, so that the series of ballshaped rollers 28 may be variously radially adjusted with respect to said path of peripheral movement, for purposes to be described later.

The ball-shaped rollers 28 may be of molded, solid foam rubber, or rubber-like elastic material, to be of somewhat harder resiliency than that of the tubes 26. For this purpose, the resiliency of the ball-shaped rollers may D6 modified to suit by providing peripherally spaced series of holes 29, 29 therethrough at points closely adjacent the shafts 27 thereof.

The housing 12 may be arranged to contain the power mechanism P in the lower portion of the housing, directly below the reel 12 to facilitate provision of a wide opening between the end walls or uprights 12, 12 through which major portions of the assembled tubes 26 and rollers 28 are outwardly free and unobstructed for selective massaging engagement of portions of a patients body therewith. To this end, the structure shown provides for this opening to extend approximately 240 around the housing, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

While the housing 12 is shown in an upright position in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 by being supported on a flat base portion 30 thereof, supporting legs or other means 32, 32a and 32b may be variously disposed, for supporting the housing in various other angular positions presenting the aforesaid exposed portions of the massaging tubes 26 and rollers 28 at different elevations and angles above the floor. In the upright position of the housing shown in FIGURE 1, 2, and 3, separate cushioned plat forms 33, 33 may be suitably anchored to the housing opposite front and opposite ends of the housing for comfortable conditions of use of the machine.

While the machine may be used for massaging by variously positioning portions of the body against the rotating tubes 26 and/or rollers 28, as described, the massaging action may be made more gentle by anchoring a length 34 of thin, flexible, fabric sheeting to the housing, as indicated at 35, to extend over the tubes 26 and rollers 28 in a direction of rotation of the reel 11. For this purpose, circular guide flanges 36 may be affixed to the housing wall 12 to guide and support the opposite marginal edges of the sheet 34 around tubes and rollers as aforesaid. In use of the machine for massaging, the sheet 34 eliminates direct frictional contact of the tubes and rollers with the body portions being massaged, which in some instances may be undesirable.

For radially adjusting each shaft 27, the same may have its opposite ends journalled in flanged collars 37, 37 received through eyelets 38 on pins 39- which are adjustably threaded into the peripheral edges of the reel flanges 21. Nuts 40 threaded on pins 39 are operable against the edges of the flanges 21 to lock the respective pins 39 in selected positions of said radial adjustment (see full and chain-dotted lines in FIGURE In use of the machine for massaging a given area of the body M (see FIG. 4) the patient may sit, lie, or otherwise position himself on one of the platforms 33 (see FIG. 1), as necessary to engagement of the body area against, or in the path of one or more adjacent pneumatic tubes 26 of an axial series thereof, substantially as shown in FIGURE 4, and with or without the friction-reducing sheet 34. As successive series tubes 25 of the idler Wheels 24 rotate in clockwise direction with the reel 11, one or more of the tubes 26 will be retained against the body, thereby to apply a more or less gentle stroking or rubbing action thereto. As the reel continues to move on around to engage one or more tubes 26 of successive series thereof with the body, one or more of respective intermediate series of the relatively harder elastic rollers 28 will apply moderately harder kneading or massaging action to the body, as shown in FIGURE 5. With continued rotation of the reel 11 these two basic rubbing and kneading manipulations are successively repeated, and can be continued for long periods of time or otherwise as required to suit the requirements of individual patients. The severity of the kneading action applied by the smaller rollers 28 may be modified by radial adjustment of the shafts 27, as required for different individuals and/or treatment requirements (see chaindotted lines in FIGURE 5). It is contemplated that the small rollers 28 may be inflated balls, with the inflation pressure adjusted to suit the requirements for harder resiliency. Likewise the larger deflated tubes on the wheel 24 may be of solid rubber-like foam material of requisite resiliency to apply relatively soft stroking action de scribed above.

Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A massaging or like treating machine comprising: a framework having spaced uprights; a reel rotatably mounted between said uprights and having axially spaced flanges; drive means for rotating said reel; a series of peripherally spaced shafts mounted between said flanges; said shafts having a plurality of axially spaced wheels mounted thereon to be relatively rotatable about the axis of the respective shaft; and said wheels including thereon resilient annular treads, whereby as the reel is rotated a succession of said annular treads are yieldingly rotatably depressible against a body area being treated; said reel including a second series of shafts mounted between said flanges to extend intermediate adjacent said first-named shafts, said second series of shafts having mounted thereon resilient body-engaging means of smaller peripheral size than said resilient annular treads.

2. A machine as in claim 1, means being provided for selectively adjusting said second series of shafts radially on said flanges relatively with respect to said first named series of shafts, and thereby to vary the effective pressure exerted by the smaller said body-engaging means applied against a body area yieldingly presented against adjacent annular treads of said series thereof.

3. A machine as in claim 1, means being provided for adjusting said second series of shafts radially on said flanges relatively with respect to said first-named series of shafts, and thereby to vary the effective pressure exerted by the smaller said engaging means against the body area presented in the circular path of movement of the outer peripheral portions of said annular treads about the axis of said reel; said resilient body-engaging means on each shaft thereof including a plurality of axially spaced ball-like portions of resilient elastic material.

4. A machine as in claim 1, means being provided for adjusting said second series of shafts radially on said flanges relatively with respect to said first-named series of shafts, and thereby to vary the effective pressure exerted by the smaller said engaging means against the body area presented in the circular path of movement of the outer peripheral portions of said annular treads about the axis of said reel; said resilient body-engaging means on each shaft thereof including a plurality of axially spaced ball-like portions of resilient elastic material, said annular treads being hollow tubes.

5. A machine as in claim 1, means being provided for adjusting said second series of shafts radially on said flanges relatively with respect to said first-named series of shafts, and thereby to vary the effective pressure exerted by the smaller said engaging means against the body area presented in the circular path of movement of the outer peripheral portions of said annular members about the axis of said reel; said resilient body-engaging means on each shaft thereof including a plurality of axially spaced ball-like portions of resilient elastic material, said annular treads being inflated hollow tubes.

6. A machine as in claim 1, said body-engaging means of said second series of shafts being spherical members of spongy elastic material.

7. A machine as in claim 1, said annular treads being hollow tubes.

8. A machine as in claim 1, said annular treads being inflated hollow tubes.

9. A massaging or like treating machine comprising: a framework having spaced uprights; a reel rotatably mounted between said uprights and having axially spaced flanges; drive means for rotating said reel; means supporting a series of peripherally spaced shafts between said flanges to rotate therewith; said shafts having a plurality of axially spaced wheels mounted thereon to be individually relatively rotatable about the axis of the respective shaft; and said wheels including thereon resilient annular treads, whereby as the reel is rotated a succession of said annular treads are yieldingly rotatably depressible against a body area being treated; said reel including a second series of shafts supported by said flanges to extend intermediate adjacent said first-named shafts to rotate with the reel, said second series of shafts having mounted thereon resilient body-engaging means of smaller peripheral size than said resilient annular treads.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 86,604- 2/1969 Taylor 12857 XR 2,543,493 2/ 1951 Gaudette et al. 128-58 2,939,455 6/1960 Arnold 12857 FOREIGN PATENTS 591,956 9/ 1947 Great Britain. 968,031 8/ 1964 Great Britain.

L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MASSAGING OR LIKE TREATING MACHINE COMPRISING: A FRAMEWORK HAVING SPACED UPRIGHTS; A REEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS AND HAVING AXIALLY SPACED FLANGES; DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID REEL; A SERIES OF PERIPHERALLY SPACED SHAFTS MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES; SAID SHAFTS HAVING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED WHEELS MOUNTED THEREON TO BE RELATIVELY ROTATABLE ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE RESPECTIVE SHAFT; AND SAID WHEELS INCLUDING THEREON RESILIENT ANNULAR TREADS, WHERBY AS THE REEL IS ROTATED A SUCCESSION OF SAID ANNULAR TREADS ARE YIELDINGLY ROTATABLY DEPRESSIBLE AGAINST A BODY AREA BEING TREATED; SAID REEL INCLUDING A SECOND SERIES OF SHAFTS MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID FLANGES TO EXTEND INTERMEDIATE ADJACENT SAID FIRST-NAMED SHAFTS, SAID SECOND SERIES OF SHAFTS HAVING MOUNTED THEREON RESILIENT BODY-ENGAGING MEANS OF SMALLER PERIPHERAL SIZE THAN SAID RESILIENT ANNULAR TREADS. 